The Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration's decision to rename the Ameri Power Plants as the Kumasi 1 Thermal Power Plant has sparked outrage and accusations of deception within Ghana's energy sector. 

The former Minister for Energy and Member for Ellembelle Constituency, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has argued that this move is a blatant attempt by the current administration to conceal their lack of substantive progress and claim credit for the initiatives of their predecessors. 

The Ameri Power Plants, originally deployed during John Dramani Mahama's presidency to combat the power crisis known as 'dumsor', were hailed as vital infrastructure during a time of dire need.

However, instead of acknowledging the foresight and proactive measures taken by the previous administration, Akufo-Addo and Bawumia have been accused of discrediting and undermining Mahama's initiatives for their own political gain.

Further controversy surrounds the renegotiation of the Ameri agreement by the current administration, which extended the contract with Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group (AMERI) Energy from five to fifteen years. 

Additionally, a new company from Greece, Mytilineous International Trading Company, was brought on board to manage the plant for the remainder of the contract period.

Had it not been for the vigilance of the NDC Minority in Parliament and Civil Society Organisations, Ghana could have potentially incurred over Ghc1 billion in additional costs under the new arrangement.

"President Akufo-Addo's subsequent claim of being "misled" and the firing of the then Energy Minister, Mr Boakye Agyarko, only added fuel to the fire," he said

The decision to relocate six units of the Ameri plant to Anwomaso in the Ashanti region, purportedly to generate 150 megawatts of electricity for the middle belt of the country, has been criticised as a superficial attempt to create a facade of progress while sidestepping broader challenges facing the energy sector.

The former minister raised these concerns in a statement dated April 14, 2024.

He said this renaming spree by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, which extends beyond universities to the power sector, has been condemned as a cynical attempt to distort historical facts and mislead the public about the true origins of critical infrastructure.

Critics argue that this pattern of renaming projects initiated by previous administrations reflects a lack of innovation and leadership in the energy sector under the current government. 

The once-thriving energy sector inherited from President Mahama has allegedly been eroded, leading to struggles with 'dumsor' exacerbated by indebtedness incurred during the current administration's tenure.

Amidst these controversies, voices within Ghana are calling for leaders committed to honesty, accountability, and genuine progress, rather than hollow promises and superficial gestures.